While hiking along a stream or wetland on a warm March day, you may stumble upon a swath of green and purple fleshy flowers. They may not look like a flower at first glance, but once you get a closer look, you can see the inflorescences within the hooded spathe. These flowers are a part of skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) […]

Hammamalis vernalis – Ozark Witch Hazel Even on these blustery February days, bright colors can be found in the garden. Ozark Witch Hazel (Hammamelis vernalis) is just starting to open this time of year. As you can see, the sunshine yellow, tendril-like petals are beginning to unfurl on sunny, mid-30s days. These little yellow flowers in the above photo are […]

Pinus sylvestris ‘Green Penguin’ – Green Penguin Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris ‘Green Penguin’ is a charming dwarf specimen Scots Pine. Known for its small, squat appearance, hence the name Green Pegnuin. This specific cultivar was found as a seedling in Park Rapids, Minnesota, by Jim Lewis. This cultivar is also known for its extreme hardiness with it being able to […]

Ilex verticillata ‘Wintergold’ – Wintergold Winterberry Ilex verticillata ‘Wintergold’, commonly known as Wintergold winterberry, has unique salmon-colored fruit. The berries begin to ripen in late summer to early fall and can last all the way into the new year. The snowy photo was taken on December 20, 2024. Winterberry is a dioecious species, which means there are separate male and […]